As I dove into the crystal clear waters in Nassau just off shore from the old Gilligan's Island filming location, my dopamine levels were off the charts in anticipation for my first spear fishing expedition. My spear in hand, I was ready to hone my skills or at least look the part. Over the coarse of an hour I caught one fish and one lobster, it was a blast. I tell my guide "I need to go back out, I saw another lobster". Sure enough there was the lobster. As I went up and down working on the right shot I catch a unsettling shape in my peripheral.  I slowly look over to see an eight to nine foot shark 15 feet from me. My heart skipped a beat as I came to grips with the fact that I was face to face with a massive sea predator, now circling me with its razor-sharp teeth bared.

In a moment of pure panic, I frantically swam back to the boat, my heart pounding in my chest. My breaths were short and ragged, and my muscles were burning with effort not to mention I was screaming for the boat to close the distance of my swim to pick me up. I could feel the shark getting closer and closer, its presence looming like a dark cloud. I had never been so scared in my life.

As I finally reached the boat, I clambered aboard, panting and sweating. My guide looked at me with a mixture of confusion and amusement. "That was a reef shark," he said. "They're harmless to humans."

In that moment, I realized how differently I would have reacted if I had known that beforehand. If I had taken the time to learn about the sharks in the area, their behavior patterns, and how to safely interact with them, I may not have panicked and swam back to the boat so hastily. In fact as I read up about sharks later that day I realized I did everything you are not supposed to do!

This encounter with a shark reminded me of the many situations in business where being unprepared and uninformed can lead to hasty and panicked decisions, which can often result in negative consequences. 

Being unprepared in business can manifest in a number of ways, such as,  lack of market research, insufficient financial planning, inadequate risk management, lack of contingency planning, not having a clear and strong strategy, not understanding the markets lead and lag measures, just to name a few.

Business owners with extensive knowledge of their market and industry, however, are better equipped to navigate the challenges and changes that inevitably arise. They are able to analyze the situation objectively and make well-informed decisions that lead to success.

In the shark encounter, the knowledge would have changed the outcome, and in the business world, the knowledge is key to success. Without it, business owners are at the mercy of the market, just like I was at the mercy of the shark. But with knowledge and preparation, we can rise above the challenges and come out victorious.

So, what are you doing to rise above or will you be at the mercy of your market?

Brent Hanson is a successful entrepreneur, thought leader and bio hacker. He owns City of Trees Real Estate which generates over $5 million dollars in revenue per year, Livian Select which is a real estate platform co-ownerd with Adam Hergenrother and Gary Keller and hundreds of real estate doors.